Tips to get the most out of Brockville Ribfest
Brockville Ribfest is quickly becoming one of Brockville’s favourite annual festivals. Located on the waterfront in Hardy Park, this fun-filled-family-food-festival hosts eight ribbers including: Ribs Royale, Dinosaur BBQ, Crabby’s BBQ, Gator BBQ, Silver Bullet, Billy Bones, Camp 31, and Jack The Ribber. There are also tons of food and merchandise vendors, a bavarian garden, activities in the Kidz Zone, live music and entertainment, all with free admission.
Brockville Ribfest is hosted annually by Big Brothers Big Sisters Leeds and Grenville and is a hugely successful fundraiser for them. Below we have a few tips to help you make the most of your visit this year:
- Taste, taste, taste!
Did you know that all of the ribbers offer free samples of their signature barbeque sauces? Before you decide where to buy your ribs from, take a tour of the park and sample sauces from all 8 of the ribbers (pro tip: you don’t have to wait in line to grab a sauce sample, just head straight for the grill and ask them for a sample). Remember that pork is sweet so your sauce will become sweeter once it is on the ribs.
- Go with a group
Food tastes better when it is shared with friends and family. Going with a group lets you try out ribs, chicken, and pulled pork from multiple vendors – and it also helps cut down on the time spent waiting in line! Don’t forget to vote for your favourites on the way out – the ribbers love getting People’s Choice Awards!
- Buy a bloomin’ onion and a fully loaded funnel cake
Not only are these treats delicious, once-a-year indulgences, this food cart is run by volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters Leeds and Grenville and the proceeds of the cart go directly back into their programming. Also check out their brand new offerings: deep-fried curds, Mars Bars, and peanut butter cups.
- Check out their programming online
Don’t miss your favourite local band or the chance to take your kids to the petting zoo, check out the lineup online on the Brockville Ribfest website before you go.
- Go early and go often
As much as you may want to, you can’t eat ribs from all 8 ribbers in one sitting. Plan ahead and start sampling on Thursday. You can also beat most of the lines by heading to Hardy Park earlier in the day for lunch.
- Get lots of napkins and wetwipes
Ribfest volunteers are great at cleaning up the tables and making sure that you have lots of napkins and wipes on hand. Make sure your area has been restocked before you sit down, you never know when a sauce emergency will strike.
- Vote for your favourites
The ribbers love taking home People’s Choice Awards and they display their wins proudly on trophies and banners hanging behind their booths. Think someone had the best sauce? The best rack of ribs? Best pulled pork? Make sure to vote for them on the way out.
Brockville Ribfest takes place in Hardy Park August 10-13, 2017. The food concessions will be available Thursday-Saturday from 11:00am to 10:00pm and Sunday from 11:00am-6:00pm (some events take place outside of those times).